2025 Chery Tiggo 2 Pro 1.5L CVT

Step In The Right Direction

In our line of work, we have the privilege of driving high-end cars, exotic sports cars, and go-anywhere 4x4 machines. While it seems like we drive such vehicles frequently, the reality is that these types of drives only happen once in a blue moon. As special as the cars may be, they also carry quite a high price tag that we can only wish to afford (and not get scratched).

More often than not, we get to test drive everyday cars like the Chery Tiggo 2 Pro. First revealed at last year’s Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS), Chery’s most affordable vehicle gets an extensive makeover both inside and out. Moreover, the brand was also busy giving the crossover better ergonomics, an improved powertrain, and enhanced sound deadening which we’ll discuss later.

But do these improvements mean Chery Auto Philippines had to increase the Tiggo 2 Pro’s price tag significantly?

Before anything else, let’s make it clear. The Tiggo 2 Pro is not an all-new model. The latest iteration is the second major model change since Chery introduced the model in the Philippines in 2020. Instead of just giving the Tiggo 2 Pro a minor facelift, Chery went all out and gave it a sleek redesign front and back. I have to give props to the automaker for letting the designers have a bit of fun redesigning the budget crossover into something that looks (and feels) more upmarket.

The latest model looks like it has borrowed some styling cues from a certain French automaker, as the Tiggo 2 Pro comes with a sleek grille that’s accompanied by eye-catching LED daytime running lights. Paired with the low-mounted projector halogens, the Tiggo 2 Pro’s more assertive look gives it more road presence than ever.

Chery even restyled the Tiggo 2 Pro’s rear as it now comes with more dynamic LED taillights complete with a trim piece that proudly displays the ‘C H E R Y’ name. The brand also made generous use of black body cladding which can be seen throughout the vehicle, including the flared wheel arch extensions which give the vehicle a more rugged look.

Combined with 186mm of ground clearance, the Tiggo 2 Pro can easily go over rough roads with ease and look good while doing it. Just don’t expect it to take on more extreme on-road (or off-road) conditions as it is still a FWD crossover.

Open the doors, and the 2025 Tiggo 2 Pro welcomes you into a high-tech yet ergonomic cabin. Chery went to the trouble of (almost) completely redesigning the crossover's dashboard and control layout. This is impressive, to say the least, given that the vehicle was only given a refresh, not a full model change.

Immediately grabbing my attention are the neat touches of faux leather and soft-touch materials on the doors and lower dashboard. This was something I wasn’t expecting especially on a budget crossover like the Tiggo 2 Pro. They are then complemented by a faux metal trim piece on the dashboard, splashes of piano black trim pieces, and lime-colored contrast stitching on the leather upholstery.

Just like the seats, the flat-bottom steering wheel and front center armrest are also leather-wrapped which adds to the more upmarket look and feel of the cabin. Even the gear selector itself has a neat touch of leather which adds to the Tiggo 2 Pro’s more premium aspirations.

The redesigned center console is one of my favorite upgrades inside the Tiggo 2 Pro. I’m happy to report that the HVAC system comes with physical buttons as well as digital controls which you can manipulate via the 10.25-inch touchscreen media display. Also worth mentioning is the double stack shelf below the aircon controls. The upper portion can hold RFID cards or a smartphone while the lower half comes with a wireless charging pad, along with Type A and Type C ports. In case you need to charge additional devices, the center glovebox hides a 12V power outlet which makes for a cleaner-looking center console. Chery even put a single USB port for the rear passengers though I reckon two ports would have been better.

As mentioned earlier, the updated crossover gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen media system. It has crisp graphics and a high-definition display which makes browsing through menus easier. But what really impressed me with the system is the fact that it comes with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. This was another feature I wasn’t expecting to see on a budget crossover but this is perhaps one of the most affordable vehicles in the country to come with such niceties. Whoever is the head of product planning at Chery Auto Philippines, props to making this feature standard on the Tiggo 2 Pro.

Despite the many improvements Chery has made for the Tiggo 2 Pro, there are still certain areas that could be better. While I do like that it has a large opening for the luggage area, I wished Chery lowered the ridge below the tailgate itself as it makes loading heavy items more difficult, not to mention bad for your back. It has 60:40 split rear seats as standard but they don't fold flat, unfortunately. Then there’s the sloping roof which means taller occupants may find it difficult to find a comfortable driving or sitting position in the back.

Last but not least, there are still parts of the cabin that can rattle at times along with the heavy use of hard (i.e. cheap) plastic. It’s not as bad as before but some portions need to have their panels checked. Still, the use of cheap plastic in affordable cars like the Tiggo 2 Pro is to be expected.

As before, a 1.5L naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine powers the 2025 Tiggo 2 Pro. It comes with twin cams (DOHC) and makes 116 PS with 143 Nm of torque. There's a slight increase in the power output, as the pre-updated version only made 108 PS and 140 Nm of pull. For this particular variant, the engine is mated to a CVT with 9 simulated gear ratios.

What the engine lacked in sheer power and displacement, it made up for with a smooth and linear power delivery. Granted, there’s a bit of vibration when it has to accelerate from a standstill but only just. On Eco Mode, the Tiggo 2 Pro goes about its day ensuring the revs are kept low while still providing sufficient pep.

If you need more power from the engine, you can switch from Eco Mode to Sport Mode. Not only does this improve engine response, but the powertrain is more eager to go up the rev range. While it won’t set the stopwatch on fire, it does make overtaking easier and climbing up steep hills faster.

You still have to plan your overtaking and make use of momentum or “buwelo” before taking on inclines since it only has 1.5L of displacement. Fortunately, the CVT has manual select which means you can go down several “gears” to make use of every ounce of torque from the tiny engine as well as engage engine braking.

Speaking of its CVT, the one on the Tiggo 2 Pro does its job to the letter. I wasn’t expecting much out of the Tiggo 2 Pro’s CVT but I was gladly surprised that it doesn’t have as noticeable a rubber band effect as other CVTs have. There’s also not much slippage which meant it functioned more like a traditional torque converter despite not having gears.

When it comes to fuel economy, the 2025 Tiggo 2 Pro is capable of returning between 10 - 11 km/L in light city driving which is impressive. Out on the highway, the crossover is capable of achieving up to 17 - 17.5 km/L at an average speed of 90 km/h. While it could be better, perhaps the Tiggo 2 Pro’s tall ride height is the result of its “slightly” lower highway fuel consumption.

Thanks to the commanding driving position, it’s easy to see out of the Tiggo 2 Pro. The driver’s seat even comes with a height adjuster which is useful for drivers of shorter height. Ride comfort on the Tiggo 2 Pro is average at best although there is a degree of stiffness in the back which could have deliberately compensated for cargo-carrying.

As far as NVH is concerned, Chery took the time to improve it on the 2025 Tiggo 2 Pro. It’s not exactly a Tiggo 7 or Tiggo 8 Pro, but outside noise is relatively kept at low levels. Tire noise, on the other hand, could be better as it tends to creep into the cabin at higher speeds. Last but not least, I wish Chery could do something with the suspension noise as it can sometimes make its way into the cabin, especially when you have to go over bumpy roads.

It might have taken Chery several tries to make the Tiggo 2 Pro a better-budget vehicle, but I’m happy to say that the automaker has done its homework. The 2024/2025 facelift has done wonders in giving the crossover better looks, better cabin ergonomics, and better value for money. Granted, it’s still built to meet a certain price point, but Chery was able to make it work for the Tiggo 2 Pro.

With a price tag of PHP 888,000 (or PHP 818,000 if you buy in cash, as per their last announcement), the Tiggo 2 Pro CVT is only PHP 70,000 more than the pre-updated CVT variant they released three years ago but comes with more equipment as well as a sleeker look. Thanks to the many improvements Chery has made, the vehicle is a great choice for buyers who want a value-packed crossover at hatchback-level prices.

Yes, it has come a long way, but we would contend it took too long to get there. The main challenge of the Tiggo 2 Pro is that it's already a dated platform. You can feel it if you drive a lot of the newer models from other brands. What will set Chery apart is going to be the ownership experience; they do take very good care of customers, especially for aftersales.

Don't just take our word for it: visit a dealer, test drive one, and see for yourself if a Tiggo 2 Pro is the right one for you.